A
tremendously dangerous situation in global politics that we have
right now, forces
experts to analyze
not only US-Russia relations but NATO-Russia- relations as well. It
is well known that on 1 April 2014, NATO unanimously decided to
suspend cooperation with the Russian Federation, in response to the
Ukraine crisis. Since then misunderstanding has become even worse.
NATO and Russia start to fortify their borders deploying more troop,
military equipment and vehicles. Thus the balance of power in the
region has been broken.

The
main indicator of an attempt to show superiority is a number and
scale of military exercises conducted by the Alliance in Europe.

It
should be said that these NATO's moves contradict Founding Act on
Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the
Russian Federation signed in Paris, France in 1997. It is stated in
the document that "the member states of NATO and Russia reaffirm
that states parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in
Europe (CFE) should maintain only such military capabilities,
individually or in conjunction with others, as are commensurate with
individual or collective legitimate security needs, taking into
account their international obligations, including the CFE Treaty."

As
far as the Alliance is concerned, since 2014 it has been constantly
increasing the number of deployed troops in the Baltic region. NATO
has found the good excuse not to break the Vienna
Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-building Measures
formally which also imposes restrictions on military activities in
Europe. NATO deploys troops in the region on a rotating basis and
conducting exercises. But this stratagem cannot lower the tension
between the opponents.

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It
is interesting that the scale of NATO manoeuvres near Russia borders
(as well as NATO member states involvement) increase from year to
year. It is also noteworthy that the hidden aim of the exercises is
to insure the ability to move troops quickly closer to the borders of
the Russian Federation.

To
achieve this goal, in fact, NATO is creating in Europe "military
Schengen", with the help of which the Alliance hopes to minimize
the time for troops deployment.

The
more so, the improving logistics and transport infrastructure within
Europe has become a new priority in NATO. Now the Alliance is working
on the transatlantic moving of its troops, as well as on constructing
in the Baltic region and Poland stockpiles of weapons, military
equipment and ammunition.

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In
addition, eight NATO Force Integration Units have been set up in
Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia which can coordinate planning, rapid reinforcements and
deployment of military contingents if needed.

According
to the former commander of the U.S. Army Europe, Lieutenant General
Frederick Benjamin Hodges, the rapid redeployment of troops during
the exercises is one of the most serious challenges to NATO forces.
He repeatedly stressed that the movement of the allies is hindered by
a number of obstacles -- from infrastructure to bureaucratic, for
example, the issuance of documents.

It
should be noted that NATO is preparing a real provocation --
Anaconda 2018 exercise, which is not even announced. These manoeuvres
promise to become the most ambitious since the end of the Cold War.
According to a number of military experts, the exercise should become
an Alliance's answer for the "Zapad" exercise. In the event,
planned for November in Poland and the Baltic states, according to
Polish sources,
will take part about 100,000 troops, including 20,000 from Poland.
Troops from several NATO countries and five partner countries will
participate in the drill. 5,000 vehicles, 150 aircraft and
helicopters, 45 warships will be used in the exercise.

The
declared goal of the Anaconda exercise is to strengthen the
interaction between the commands of the Polish Armed Forces, NATO
member states and partner countries "within the framework of the
joint defensive operation in the face of the emergence of hybrid
threats." Among them is the use of weapons of mass destruction and
attacks in cyberspace.

Though
it is not a secret that any military exercise is a real combat
training of troops. It is worth paying attention to the statement
made by Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak, made
during the meeting with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis in
February, on the possible increasing presence of American troops in
Poland.

Currently,
about 4,000 US military personnel are deployed in Poland, which
comprise one armored brigade and separate units of NATO multinational
forces.

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Apparently,
under a cover of Anaconda 18 exercise, another US brigade could be
deployed in the country. Taking into account this fact as well as the
deployment of four NATO
multinational battalion-size groups
in the Baltic states and Poland and the additional deployment of the
US 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, NATO will eventually deploy a
whole mechanized division -- hundreds of Abrams main battle tanks,
Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Paladin self-propelled howitzer.

All
these steps are taken in defiance of all statements, and not caring
about any international treatments.